The shields of the soldiers are red;
    the warriors are clad in scarlet.(A)
The metal on the chariots flashes
    on the day they are made ready;
    the spears of juniper are brandished.[a]
The chariots(B) storm through the streets,
    rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
    they dart about like lightning.

Nineveh summons her picked troops,
    yet they stumble(C) on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
    the protective shield is put in place.
The river gates(D) are thrown open
    and the palace collapses.
It is decreed[b] that Nineveh
    be exiled and carried away.
Her female slaves moan(E) like doves
    and beat on their breasts.(F)
Nineveh is like a pool
    whose water is draining away.
“Stop! Stop!” they cry,
    but no one turns back.
Plunder the silver!
    Plunder the gold!
The supply is endless,
    the wealth from all its treasures!
10 She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!
    Hearts melt,(G) knees give way,
    bodies tremble, every face grows pale.(H)

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. Nahum 2:3 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac ready; / the horsemen rush to and fro.
  2. Nahum 2:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

The Enemy Army Conquers the City of Nineveh

The shields of his warriors are dyed red;
    The powerful men are dressed in scarlet.
The metal of the chariots[a] shines like fire on the day of battle,[b]
    and their spears quiver.
The chariots[c] race madly through the streets;
    they rush back and forth in the public squares.
Their appearance like lightning bolts,
    they dart about like flashes of lightning.
He calls his officers;
    they stumble as they march;
they rush to her wall;
    they set the covering[d] in place.
The gates of the river are opened;
    the palace trembles.
Her goddess is taken out and taken into exile;[e]
    her maidservants moan like doves;
        they beat on their breasts.
Nineveh is like a pool of water without its water.[f]
    As they flee,[g] she cries, “Stop! Stop!”
        But there is no one who turns back.
Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!
    There is no end to the spoils,[h]
        an abundance of everything one could want![i]
10 Emptiness and plundering and devastation!
    Their hearts faint and their knees tremble,[j]
        All their loins shake[k] and all their faces turn[l] pale.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. Nahum 2:3 Hebrew “chariot”
  2. Nahum 2:3 Literally “on the day of his preparation”
  3. Nahum 2:4 Hebrew “chariot”
  4. Nahum 2:5 The Hebrew word describes a small portable roof to protect siege warriors from arrows and debris hurled at them from the fortified city wall
  5. Nahum 2:7 Literally “It is decreed that she be exiled and led away.” MT reads the very enigmatic “And he is placed, she is sent into exile, she is taken up.” The BHS editors suggest the conjectural emendation “And her goddess = the idol of the patron deity of Nineveh is taken and taken into exile.” This is adopted in the translation on the basis of internal evidence
  6. Nahum 2:8 MT reads “from her days.” Greek LXX and Syriac Peshitta reflect “from her waters”
  7. Nahum 2:8 Literally “And they flee away”
  8. Nahum 2:9 Literally “the supply”
  9. Nahum 2:9 Literally “every kind of desirable object”
  10. Nahum 2:10 Or “totter”
  11. Nahum 2:10 Literally “And shaking of all loins”
  12. Nahum 2:10 Literally “gather”